PLA reveals nuclear deterrence system
By ZHAO LEI |
chinadaily.com.cn |
Updated: 2025-09-03 20:22
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Each missile designation carries a specific meaning in Chinese: YJ stands for yingji, or "Eagle Strike"; DF is the commonly abbreviated name for dongfeng, or "East Wind"; JL in the submarine-based missile's name is short for julang, or "Massive Wave"; and the air-launched JL stands for jinglei, or "Shocking Thunderclap".
Among them, the JL-1, JL-3, DF-26D, DF-31BJ, DF-61 and DF-5C had been classified before the event.
The parade marked the first time the Chinese military publicly revealed its air-based nuclear strike platform. In the past, there was a conspicuous loophole in China's nuclear arsenal as the PLA Air Force did not own a usable air-based projection asset for nuclear warheads.
